Donnie Brasco [Special Edition]

"Columbia TriStar has put together an impressive DVD edition of this Mob drama. The picture looks great, presented in an anamorphic widescreen format, preserving the 2.35:1 aspect ratio. The sound, offered in Dolby Digital 5.0, is surprisingly effective, given the quiet tone of the film. The ambience of the city streets and social clubs comes across very clearly and is well-defined. Viewers can browse through a handful of deleted scenes. While some are rightfully left on the cutting room floor, others (such as the expansion of the ""pet lion"" subplot) are very enjoyable and could have fit well into the final version. These scenes are offered with an optional commentary from director Mike Newell, who also provides a feature-length commentary track. This is less impressive, as Newell spends more time watching the film than talking about it. The disc is redeemed, however, by a featurette entitled ""Donnie Brasco: Out From the Shadows,"" which in addition to showing a great deal of behind-the-scenes footage, includes interviews with real-life FBI agent Joe Pistone, who is played by Depp in the film. Pistone provides a great look at the real people that inspired the movie and allows the viewer to better appreciate the performances. Also included is the original promotional featurette. This is little more than an extended trailer, but has some behind-the-scenes shots that are worth looking at. Lastly, the viewer gets a photo gallery, talent files, and trailers (for Donnie Brasco and similarly themed films). For those who missed Donnie Brasco during its theatrical run, this DVD gives offers a second chance."